Sticker shock: Airlines to advertise actual prices

WASHINGTON – Starting Thursday, airfares will look different because airlines have to include taxes and mandatory fees in their advertisements.

Those taxes also must be included on airlines’ websites, online travel sites, social media and in emails.

Airlines fought the changes. Steve Lott, spokesman for the industry trade group Airlines for America, said he expects ads will now include a range of prices for a destination, rather than those low-price deals airlines had offered.

People who travel internationally will see the biggest changes in prices. By the time taxes, fuel surcharges and other fees are added up, the real cost for a flight can rise $200 round-trip.